Life brings with it many troubling and terrible things. There is pain, death, and accidents that deprive one of limbs and abilities. In fact, there is a statement that goes, “it is amazing what one can live through”. The human body, mind, and spirit are quite resilient and powerful and while God allows us to face the trials of mortality He has a specific purpose in mind. We can’t always see what He is doing while we live in the moment; however, if we walk by faith the path we have been given then when we come out on the other side we can see the miracle that has taken place.
Granted we can’t always see it right away and sometimes we can’t even begin to heal from what has happened. This year my heart has been bruised because 3 wonderful young adult friends of mine have been called home. These are kids that I taught in church or babysat for friends. In January, my friends Stephen Altorfer and Dallin Hilton died in a car accident on their way back to university. I’m just a friend and even now as I see these men as young boys in church my heart is filled with pain and sadness. I can’t even fathom the pain that their parents are bearing. I am tearing up just writing this post. Then a few weeks ago my friend Eliza Bailey died in a car accident, a beautiful young woman with a future of hope and promise. Again, I can’t imagine what her parents are going through. My heart aches for all 3 of these families and I have marveled at how they have handled this pain and loss. I am inspired by their faith and optimism; they know that families are forever and they will be reunited again.
As I contemplated what to write, these thoughts came to mind and then this scripture from Malachi Chapter 3 also came to the forefront of my thoughts. “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” (1)
Yes, He will purify us and prepare us for His kingdom if we willing follow Him. Christ knows what we can endure and He knows that when we are at out most painful and horrific moments in life, that He will carry us through if we put all our love and trust in Him. (2) Faith in Christ is not for the faint of heart, the weak willed, it is a course that will be filled with trials and then great blessings and glorious vistas! Over the last 20 years, I have had my share of tribulation and I have reveled in the moments of wonder and glory! I know that there is a long life ahead (or rather I hope) and there will be many more things to come. I look forward to getting to know my God in my extremities, for that is how I will be prepared to return home to Him.
In those experiences, He will be purifying me and shaping me into the type of man He wants me to be. Here is synopsis of how a gold/silver smith knew the metal he was working with was ready.
“The best example I can think of to illustrate this principle is that of the work of a gold or silver smith. the gold smith heats the gold into liquid form until the impurities rise to the top and can be skimmed off. The gold is then allowed to cool and harden back into a solid state. The gold smith repeats this process of heating, removing impurities, and cooling until, after several cycles, the gold has been made free of all impurities. How does the gold smith know when the gold is pure? If when he looks at the liquid gold he can see his clear reflection in it, he knows the impurities are gone. there is nothing left that might obscure his image.
That is how it is with God and us. God uses the heat of trials to burn away the impurities in our lives, if we allow Him. Each time we submit to this process, and it is a process, God’s reflection in our lives becomes clearer and more radiant. As our impurities are removed, we better reflect His glorious image. But notice that times of purification happen when the gold or silver is heated to liquid form, when it is going through the fire and in a less stable state (for all you science buffs) – not when it is cooled and solid. We must come to the end of ourselves realizing that, like the hot liquid, we have no shape or strength and can do nothing in ourselves. It is the Lord that gives us form, after we have been purified. It is the refiners fire that removes the dross from the silver.” (3)
Lastly, I would like to close with this scripture: Alma 5:14 and 19 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
iron wil
References
- Malachi 3:2-3
- Footprints, the poem
- “Through His Eyes”, By Francine L. Bouwense, page 110
- Alma Chapter 5: verses 14 and 19
